Have you already found the perfect home for your family and kids? Are you planning to sign the lease sometime soon? Well if your answer to any of these questions is yes then you’ve landed at the right place. We say that because you might be forgetting an integral part of ‘Renting’ – The Home Inspection.

But you’ve already visited the place twice, so why do you need to visit it again? This is because the Standard Residential Tenancy Agreement in Australia consists of certain clauses that might land you in trouble. To avoid any inconvenience in the future, it is imperative for you to visit the property multiple times for home inspection.

According to standard agreements, the tenants need:

1. To keep the premises reasonably clean
2. To Inform the landlord of any damage at the earliest
3. Not to damage the property deliberately
4. Not to renovate the property without landlord’s consent
5. To leave the property in the same condition that they it rented in (except fair wear and tear)

Therefore it is better to take notes of what the existing problems with the property are. This ensures the landlord does not hold you responsible for the damage to the property during move-out inspection. Failing to follow these steps can cost you significant losses. In fact, there is a good chance that you might be risking your entire security deposit.

Let’s have a look at common things that you need to watch out for during Home Inspection:

1. Paint 

Take a thorough look at the paint on both the exterior and interior of the house. Document any damage to the paint by water or mold or perhaps a scratch.

2. Windows

Another common place that requires close inspection is the windows. Watch out for any crack in the glass and check if it closes accurately.

3. Plumbing

Take a closer look at the bathrooms and the kitchen. Run water from the faucets and flush the toilet multiple times. Detect if there are any leaks or damage to the floor.

4. Electricity

Ensue there is power in each room and all the lights and ceilings work. We recommend taking any electronic equipment to see if the sockets work properly.

5. Safety equipment

This one is perhaps for your own safety. Ensure there are fire detectors installed and enquire if they work correctly. A demonstration for the security system if any is also a good measure.

Try to inspect every element of the house and do not rush to sign the lease. Once you find the issues, insist adding them to the agreement. You should also take pictures of everything wrong with the house so you don’t have to share the responsibility later.

Rental Property owners demand significant amount of money as security deposits. Failing to take notes of such issues can put your deposit in jeopardy.

In fact, Home Inspection also serves as the perfect opportunity to inspect for issues with equipment like thermostat. You could then ask the landlord to fix them before you move in. 

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